Apple shipping Snow Leopard in September, $29 upgrade

After showing off Mac OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" at last year's WWDC, Apple is finally ready to ship it out the door this coming September, for a quite reasonable upgrade fee of $29 for Leopard users (as opposed to the regular $129 for larger refreshes). Folks who buy a Leopard machine between now and December can get the upgrade for $10 in shipping. While the added feature list is relatively slim, and there are few surprises between what was confirmed last year and the various leaks from developer previews, Apple's still giving users and developers some fun new tech to play with -- particularly the GPU-exploiting OpenCL, and the Grand Central Dispatch tech for developers to ease application optimization for multi-core processors. Pretty nerdy stuff, but if it makes our Dashboard Sudoku Widgets run faster, we can hardly complain. Other updates to the OS Apple is trotting out at WWDC:

• Apple rewrote the Finder, while keeping it mostly the same on the surface, for a bunch of "little benefits." Tweaks include faster Quick Look previews and Spotlight searches.
  
• There's built-in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 support in the OS, including Mail, Calendar and Address Book syncing.
  
• QuickTime X has a new "modern foundation," HTTP streaming and a whole new look. Users can record and trim video, and upload to sharing sites like MobileMe and YouTube.
  
• Snow Leopard has half the footprint of Leopard, amounting to 6GB in savings and 45% faster installs.
• New trackpads can handle handwriting recognition now, and there's new text selection "AI." There's also support for wireless Braille accessories (pictured).
  
• Safari 4 is available for Windows, Leopard and Tiger, but Snow Leopard adds "Crash Resistance," which keeps browser and tabs intact even if a plugin crashes -- user just refreshes the page. 64-bit version does JavaScript 50% faster.
• All core apps are 64-bit, and performance improvements abound. Mail boasts 85% faster message loads and 90% faster loads, while Time Machine has a 50% faster initial backup time.

Update: More Snow Leopard additions and refinements are detailed here. Highlights we've spotted so far include Text Expander-style capabilities in Text Edit and Mail, and three finger and four finger multitouch gesture support for older (pre unibody) MacBooks! [Thanks, Jakob]

Gallery: Apple demos Snow Leopard at WWDC

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Gallery: Snow Leopard press shots

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[Banman @ Jun 8th 2009 1:32PM]

Ok...I really have to ask. Is Snow Leapord supposed to be an entirely new OS or is it a service pack?

[Alan Partridge @ Jun 8th 2009 1:37PM]

Its a service pack, could you imagine the outrage if Microsoft charged for XP SP3 or Vista SP2

[Michael Scrip @ Jun 8th 2009 1:40PM]

Leopard was released in October 2007. With all the changes we've just seen in Snow Leopard, it seems like a new operating system.

These aren't just bug-fixes and patches... what other OSes call their service pack... here, major portions of OSX have been rewritten.

And a $29 upgrade price? Heck yeah!

[Ryan @ Jun 8th 2009 1:42PM]

I'm not a huge apple fanboy, but if you think about it, they only charge like $160 for the OS. Five $30 service packs would equal the price of Vista Ultimate/

[Alan Partridge @ Jun 8th 2009 1:44PM]

"seems like a new operating system"

Did you bang your head?

[ZenStyleJunglist @ Jun 8th 2009 1:44PM]

For all those reasons, we've enabled more and more 64-bit and Snow Leopard is the final stage. All the major system applications are in 64-bit mode

Multicore: New methodology called Grand Central Dispatch across all of Snow Leopard. Language extension, multicore engine, object oriented framework, new system-wide APIs, tools

OpenCL for graphics: Hardware abstraction, C-based language, automatic optimization, Numerical accuracy, Open standard

Yeah it's not just a service pack.

[Tal Rosenblum @ Jun 8th 2009 1:46PM]

Dude, are you kidding...it's a whole new OS, not a service pack. Since Leopard wasn't as fast as they wanted it to be, just like customers wanted it to be...they decided it's only fair to not charge a lot.
Plus it makes Windows 7 look really expensive.

[ZenStyleJunglist @ Jun 8th 2009 1:47PM]

I'm waiting for Windows 7, but Snow Leopard has some good stuff going on.

[liamf555 @ Jun 8th 2009 1:53PM]

Snow leopard is less of a service pack than windows 7.

More has been done to make snow leopard than to make windows 7

[rells009 @ Jun 8th 2009 1:55PM]

I'm just asking because what they've told me hasn't convinced me as a consumer who's not the most tech saavy guy around that it's really a huge improvement.

I mean if the changes are that significant, shouldn't this just be OS 11?

[Brian! @ Jun 8th 2009 1:57PM]

Oh no. New OS. They put in something called Copy/Paste. Oh, wait, that's the iPhone. Look, I am sure there is something here that is so new you'll have a hard time telling the difference between the older OS X and the new one.

[Warom @ Jun 8th 2009 2:08PM]

Are you guys all joking? this is nothing but an Service Pack - anyway you look at it.
They updated Mail! erm, well Microsoft releases Windows Live Mail free and all upgrades free.
They updated Quicktime.... yet again, Microsoft allows you to update to the latest version of WMP free.
They updated Safari - there are 100s of browsers you could use for Windows - ALL free.
They added proper 64bit! Well, you can upgrade from Vista to Vista 64 for free.....
They added Expose to the dock! wow, im sure this wont be less than 10,000,000 lines of code.
They added OpenCL - Microsoft is adding DirectX 11 in Windows 7.
They rewrote Finder - Amazing, this is what everyone wanted in Snow Leopard, I saw hundreds of posts on apple forums about this very thing, I am so glad they delivered.

basically, everything so far has been barely worth mentioning and the speed improvements? I bet they aren't anywhere near as great as they are trying to have us believe.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Jun 8th 2009 2:10PM]

Brand-new OS. Though you wouldn't know it by the MS drones who, after 9 years of OS X, still can't it thru their heads that a point-release does not necessarily mean it is a minor update.

[superhobo @ Jun 8th 2009 2:18PM]

They added snow.

[alexicov @ Jun 8th 2009 2:47PM]

superhobo just made my day baha

[Phenoum @ Jun 8th 2009 3:51PM]

yyyyyeeeessssss!!!!!

45% faster install! shaweeeeeeetttt

Wait - how many people install their own OSX (umm none?)

thanks for emphasizing the massive benefits here Eng.......

[Patriks7 @ Jun 8th 2009 4:07PM]

I really loved the irony in them bashing Windows 7 just being an extension of Vista, yet a minute later they said that Snow Leopard is just being built upon of Leopard...

[---- @ Jun 8th 2009 4:08PM]

snow leopard is to leopard what windows 7 is to Vista

[---- @ Jun 8th 2009 4:09PM]

""Its a service pack, could you imagine the outrage if Microsoft charged for XP SP3 or Vista SP2""

you mean like Vista ?

[---- @ Jun 8th 2009 4:14PM]

@Warom ""I bet they aren't anywhere near as great as they are trying to have us believe.""

so you bet? so your basically saying you are just talking out of your a$$ and guessing . so i guess this is typical of all these apple haters, you know talking crap about something they have never tried.

[Deluxe @ Jun 8th 2009 5:27PM]

@Warom:
"Are you guys all joking? this is nothing but an Service Pack - anyway you look at it.
They updated Mail! erm, well Microsoft releases Windows Live Mail free and all upgrades free.
They updated Quicktime.... yet again, Microsoft allows you to update to the latest version of WMP free.
They updated Safari - there are 100s of browsers you could use for Windows - ALL free.
They added proper 64bit! Well, you can upgrade from Vista to Vista 64 for free.....
I must agree, those are free on Windows.

"They added OpenCL - Microsoft is adding DirectX 11 in Windows 7."
Here is the problem in your demonstration... Windows 7 is not a Service Pack, it'll cost money to upgrade from Vista.
You've just proved that Snow Leopard include features that are definitely bound to a new OS (don't forget Grand Central, without equivalent), and for the low price of $29.

@Patriks7
"I really loved the irony in them bashing Windows 7 just being an extension of Vista, yet a minute later they said that Snow Leopard is just being built upon of Leopard..."
So true. They're just so arrogant sometimes.
Remind me of Leopard Spaces announce... a great new feature... but available on Linux for years...

[ravenpen @ Jun 8th 2009 5:37PM]

How many times does this need to be explained?

The "Service Pack" upgrades are free and occur with each major OS X release; 10.5 has spawned 10.5.1, 10.5.2, 10.5.3, 10.5.4, 10.5.5, 10.5.6 and 10.5.7.

Snow Leopard is OS X 10.6 and is therefore a major release of the OS.

Whether you feel there is enough change to warrant this as the next major release is debatable, but the numbering system is clear and the discount in price for 10.5 users doesn't change that.

[RowdyReptile @ Jun 8th 2009 6:24PM]

I just love that Apple started their explanation of Snow Leopard by bashing that the new Windows 7 is just a retooled version of Vista.... and then announced a retooled version of their own OS.

Having used both windows vista and windows 7 extensively, I would love to hear his specific examples to back up his blanket criticism. And just because you say "We kept it the same cause we love it so much" doesn't mean you aren't being a total hypocrite by bashing Windows 7 and announcing Snow Leopard in the same breath. This whole keynote was smoke and mirrors.

[John @ Jun 8th 2009 8:21PM]

It's a service pack. They update the things that are out of date. It's Apple's model to sell you each update for a small amount each year rather than for a large amount every 3-5 years. Guess what, they're both perfectly valid models, and if they did save up enough changes to release them all at once as a new OS then they'd be doing the same thing as Microsoft. You won't get the same improvements going from Leopard to Snow Leopard but Leopard is only a year old. It makes no difference, and if you don't think it's worth it don't buy Mac OS and don't buy the updates.

[mentalman1369 @ Jun 9th 2009 10:30AM]

so can you delete items one-by-one from the trash yet?

[Eddy Munn @ Jun 8th 2009 1:34PM]

$29 is a steal!

[tyler @ Jun 8th 2009 1:39PM]

Not when it should be $0.00.

[Eddy Munn @ Jun 8th 2009 1:41PM]

Why should it be?
I'm sure Vistas service pack called '7' will be a tad more than $29.

[Michael Scrip @ Jun 8th 2009 1:42PM]

>> "Not when it should be $0.00."

They rewrote much of OSX... should it be free?

[Ordeith @ Jun 8th 2009 1:49PM]

Remember that XP SP2 was free.

That added defender, native firewall, and many other features to Windows XP. It was a bigger upgrade than leopard to snow leopard.

[Brian! @ Jun 8th 2009 1:56PM]

I'll pay this upgrade price. It is not that bad considering there are improvements. It is not a new OS or anything, but heck, I even pay WinZip a few bucks every couple of years to update their software. Not that I would mind if they went the Windows way of just providing the updates in a big Service Pack, but the Apple way is not that way.

[wickedpheonix @ Jun 8th 2009 2:19PM]

I'm actually a little scared about the $29 price. From what I see on the liveblogs it sounds like it's an upgrade price from Leopard, i.e. not an upgrade price - meaning, you need to have Leopard installed to start the Snow Leopard install. If true, it means that people who still have Tiger and people who want to build a Hackintosh will need to find a copy of Leopard first, and that's still $129 right now.

[Michael Scrip @ Jun 8th 2009 2:41PM]

>> "If true, it means that people who still have Tiger..."

If you've been running Tiger for the last 4 years... I doubt you're in a hurry to install Snow Leopard.

Leopard has already been around for the last 18 months... which is an eternity in computer time.

[shinratdr @ Jun 8th 2009 5:30PM]

Proper Exchange support for OS X is a steal at any price. Must have upgrade for buisness Macs. Entourage can die a slow and painful death.

[giantenemycrab @ Jun 8th 2009 6:33PM]

I can't believe this. The shit people let Apple get away with because they're Apple. Can you imagine the outrage if Microsoft charged $30 for XP SP2 or Vista SP2? Can you imagine if the Zune Phone cost $699 for the people already on contract and offered little to no improvement or something that should have been on their from the beginning like MMS? Ho-ho-holy shit. 500+ comments, at least, of witty crap like "M$". I'm sure there would be clever little digs from the Engadget writer, as well. But, Apple does it and it's justified for some twisted reason. People just bend over and take it up the ass. Apple and Steve Jobs aren't your best friend from high school. This brand loyalty while the brand is screwing you over is beyond stupid. It's ok to not obey every word and buy every overpriced product that spews from Cupertino Wake up, people! ... "The Cult of Apple", indeed.

[mentalman1369 @ Jun 9th 2009 10:36AM]

So you're gonna pay $29 to get features like this:
(from apple's snow leopard info page):

"Restore deleted items to original folders

If you put an item in the Trash, then change your mind, you can restore it to its original location. Just select the item in the Trash folder and choose Put Back from the File menu."

wow, i wonder how many decades windows has had this feature...

[Cardbored @ Jun 8th 2009 1:34PM]

I really hope Apple crashes and burns after Jobs dies. All the windows bashing is ridiculous. Give some respect for your competition you elitest assholes

[redcard @ Jun 8th 2009 1:36PM]

Respect? Uhhhh?

You're only calling them elitiest cos you can't afford a Mac

[Cardbored @ Jun 8th 2009 1:38PM]

You know what? Your right, I can't afford a Mac. I'm going to college so I have more important things to spend my money on than at $1,500 computer.

[Seung-Hwan @ Jun 8th 2009 1:42PM]

Uh... right.
Many students apply for scholarships and grants, or take loans to buy what they need.
If a college student feels that he really needs a Mac, it is not that inaccessible.

[Hombre Phaty @ Jun 8th 2009 1:51PM]

You are deep in Plato's Cave. You do not know what you do not know; indeed, that is wisdom: to begin to understand how much one does not know.

More to the point, however: it would enrich your life to understand Apple. You don't ever need to own an Apple product, but understanding who they are and what they do would have a profound effect on how you view they world.

[o29 @ Jun 8th 2009 1:55PM]

Like English classes?

:P

[o29 @ Jun 8th 2009 1:57PM]

Er that was supposed to be a reply to Cardbored, but it looks much more out of place with all the posts between it.

[Chris @ Jun 8th 2009 2:09PM]

@Seung-Hwan If a college student decides to spend all his grants on beer it's no that inaccessible.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Jun 8th 2009 2:14PM]

You're too far in it to notice all the Windows assholes who still cry about single-button mice and other anti-Mac crap from 10 years ago?

One comment: Mac users have way more Windows experience than Windows users have Mac experience. It's a fact. Hence, the average Mac user is in a better position to defend their choices than the average Windows user is.

[kal326 @ Jun 8th 2009 2:36PM]

@redcard
I'm a college student as well and could have bought a mac if I wanted. However, I am a business student and the cost/benefit analysis didn't cut it for a mac book pro. You will find most businesses around the world have reached similar conclusions..

[primetime4 @ Jun 8th 2009 3:29PM]

@kal326

You're a business student eh? Did you factor resale value into your equation? If you did you would see that you can still sell a 5 year old Powerbook for +30% of it's original value. Try that with your Winbook. And businesses use what they use based on the platform. The same laptop my company paid 1600 for would have cost the average buyer 600 so it's not like we picked my crappy Dell because it was cheap.

[maveric101 @ Jun 8th 2009 4:16PM]

@primetime

uh, no. cost is definitely a factor when companies get computers. in fact, many large companies (my father's law firm included) lease computers from a leasing agency so that they can keep their computers modern without spending a ton. they also recommend that people get a desktop instead of a laptop unless they need the portability, because "[a desktop] represents a cost savings for the firm." real quote. and even if your company isn't leasing, i guarantee they're not paying 267% MSRP. that or you work for the most fucktarded company in the world.

[-K @ Jun 9th 2009 11:31AM]

@ UnixSystemsEngineer
This is most likely due to Windows market penetration, you'd probably find it equally as hard to find a Windows Vista user that had used Windows 95, and much less that had used 2.1 or a Mac OS X user that ran Mac OS 8 (with the fun I can delete my OS issue) and a very small amount that have run System 6.

You'll always find people who are willing to talk at length about a subject they aren't willing to learn about, and it get more and more silly each time.

[austin106 @ Aug 21st 2009 3:54AM]

@cardbored: Um... you're bashing right now by saying that apple is comprised of "elitist assholes".
And it's not just apple that "bashes", mudslinging is a part of most advertising campaigns. companies do not just advertise their own advantages, but they have to try to break the competition too. its used in politics, employment, and overall business related careers. and its not just apple, Microsoft manages to sneak a bit of bashing into their commercials as well.